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Effect of Thermodynamic and Environmental Factors on Crystallization of DNA‐Origami Superlattices

Michelson, Aaron [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)] (ORCID:0000000330603788)·Kahn, Jason S. [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)]·Minevich, Brian [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)]·Mckeen, Dan [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Nayak, Anish Kumar [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Dharmaraj, Vishnu L. [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Shastry, Tejus [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Shen, Eric [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Saraglino, Tate [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Kumar, Sanat [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)]·Gang, Oleg [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN); Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States); Yonsei Univ., Seoul (Korea, Republic of)]
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Abstract

The directed self‐assembly of nanoscale materials into ordered superlattices presents a powerful strategy for creating next‐generation materials with programmable mechanical, optical, and photonic properties. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) origami has emerged as a versatile scaffold for encoding nanoscale geometry and guiding the crystallization of complex 3D architectures. However, a systematic understanding of the parameters that govern the efficiency and quality of superlattice formation remains limited. In this study, we utilize octahedral DNA nanoscale frames as a model system to investigate the relative influence of key factors, including buffer composition, ionic strength, frame concentration, and thermal annealing protocols, on the size, order, and reproducibility of the resulting superlattices. Our findings provide a quantitative framework to rationally optimize DNA‐based assembly pathways. Structural characterization via small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and optical microscopy validates the quality and fidelity of the assembled lattices. Moreover, by templating these DNA frameworks into inorganic replicas, we establish general design principles that extend beyond biomolecular systems, providing a foundation for the synthesis of programmable materials in broader nanofabrication contexts.

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77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGYcrystallizationdna origamiionic strengthmaterials sciencenanolithographynanoscopic scalenanotechnologyoptical microscopesuperlattice

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Michelson, Aaron [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)] (ORCID:0000000330603788), Kahn, Jason S. [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)], Minevich, Brian [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)], Mckeen, Dan [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Nayak, Anish Kumar [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Dharmaraj, Vishnu L. [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Shastry, Tejus [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Shen, Eric [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Saraglino, Tate [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Kumar, Sanat [Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States)], Gang, Oleg [Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN); Columbia Univ., New York, NY (United States); Yonsei Univ., Seoul (Korea, Republic of)]. 2026-07-08. Effect of Thermodynamic and Environmental Factors on Crystallization of DNA‐Origami Superlattices. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.71141

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77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY subjectDNA origami subjectMaterials Science subjectcrystallization subjectionic strength subjectnanolithography subjectnanoscopic scale subjectnanotechnology subjectoptical microscope subjectsuperlattice subject

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